CCAA (Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances)

What are Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs)? These are voluntary conservation agreements between the Service and one or more non-Federal landowner(s). The Service works with its partners, including local, state and federal agencies, to

Plan the measures needed to remove or reduce the threats and conserve these species

Identify willing landowners

Develop agreements

Design and implement conservation measures

Monitor their effectiveness

The CCAA program is only available for non-Federal landowners on non-Federal lands and provides the assurance that if enrolled landowners implement various conservation activities, they will not be subject to additional restrictions if the covered species becomes listed under the Endangered Species Act. It is this very concern about the potential regulatory implications of having a listed species on their land that prompted the Service to develop this tool.